The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-08-05
JAILED IN JAPAN.
The Horrors of Life in a Gage In
Toxic.
a Political Prisoners Experlenos-UnfOrtu-
mates Crowded Into Small Pens-Bru-
taiities PractIced by Prison-Keepers
The System "a Disgrace.

taiities PractIced by Prison Keepers
The System a Disgrace.
Tatui Bahia, a japanese now visiting
this country, writes to the Washington
Star the following account of his recent
experience in a Toxic prison:
1.-The japanese Government has, dur
ing the last ten years, been introducing
many superficial elements of European
civilization, such as dress, dancing,
etc, but more fundamental reforms
necessary to the welfare of thirty-seven
million ofpeople are entirely neglected.
One of the matters requiring reform is
the Japanese prison system. 1 was
put in the Japanese prison at the end
of December, 1885, and kept there I'M
der the suspicion of a political offense
Tor six months without any public trial.
When a public trial came the public
prosecutor could produce nothing
worthy of notice and I was set free.
My arrest came about in the following
way:
cat the time l intended to come to
this country, and went to Yokohama,
where the Pacific Mail steamships start
for San Francisco, to make inquiry
about the voyage. I made several pur-
chases as part of the preparations for
my journey. was with another young
Japanese gentleman. We passed near
n shop kept by an Englishman for the
sale Of dynamite. We concluded to 20
in and see the dynamite simply to sat
isfy our curiosity. We went in and
stated thatwe wanted to see the dyna-
mite. We were told that the man had
mo dynamite in the shop, as 1t was kept
in warehouse, and that consequently
he could not show it to us. So we left
the shop. But the Government spies
lurking about there gave information
TO the japanese Government to the eff
feet that had made contract for the
purchase of dynamite. The Japanese
Government, always suspicious Of those
who criticise their policy, Immediately
arrested me and my friend without any
further investigation.
''At first l was brought before Keibu,
or three constables, and asked several
useless questions. such rs Who are
your friendsP' Whom do You knowP'
etc. 1 was kept in temporary prison
for ten days and sent to the main pris-
on in Kaiibashi.
"This prison is situated in a central
place of the capital, Toxic, and is I'M
der the direct control of the Minister
of the Interior. The building is two
stories high and made in the shape Of
n cross. In each story there are forty
cages, making eighty in all. Each is
nine feet square. The japanese Gov
eminent manages TO keep many pris-
oners in this prison for two or three
years without any public trial Each
cage generally contains ten or eleven
prisoners, who cat and sleep in this
small box. Or, perhaps, it Is better to
say the prisoners try to sleep. heaped
up one over another. There sre always
from eight hundred to nine hundred
prisoners kept in this way. Many be-
come sick and some die. i have seen
two of the prisoners die within six
months. But 1 am surprised that con-
sidering the bad sanitary system, want
OF exercise, bad food and drink, etc,
so few die l am told more prisoners
die after they come out of the prison,
where they are sustained by a sort of
excitement
"The outside of each cage is pro-
tected by a strong wooden frame.
The frame itself becomes a door to let
the prisoners in or out The side
facing the yards has a large window,
protected with an iron frame, of which
the door must not be closed without
the permission of the officials, even in
the severest winter night Thus it is a
common occurrence that prisoners are
found covered with snow. At the cor
ner Of this cage. a small tub, contain
ing water for the purpose of drinking
and washing, is placed beside two
wooden vessels for sewerage purposes.
The water is impure as we'll as filthy.
The food furnished TO the prisoners
consists of a small quantity of a mix
ture of rice and oats, about a quarter
Of pound served sometimes with three
pieces Of pickle, or with boiled vege-
tables Although they give meal
three times day, the guam
tity is SO small that the prisoners
become as thin as skeletons. There
is an arrangement made which is sup
posed to be for the benefit of the pris-
oners. The friends of the prisoners
are permitted to send quarter of a
pound of meat once a day, but several
absurd formalities must be gone
through with before a prisoner can get
this meat. Generally the meat is sent
away If one makes a very slight error,
such as failing to mention the particular
prisoners name, or his place of resi-
H., - d, "a
most Of the prisoners have no means Of
communicating with their friends.
When they are arrested the Govern
nent spy or police tell them they need
not bring any money with them, as
they will be sent back to their homes
in a few minutes When they go to
the prison they are kept there six
months at least. During this time, If
they have any money to pay postage